Olympus E-30

Pros: Live View mode works very well, good on-screen menu system, fast performance, more than 30 shots in high-speed burst mode, useful scene modes

Cons: Optical viewfinder is uncomfortable to use, images displayed noticeable noise at ISO 400, no physical focus mode switch

Verdict: Despite its noisy images, we recommend the E-30 for anyone who is considering making the leap from an advanced compact camera to a D-SLR. It's an easy camera to use, and the Live View mode will make it a relatively smooth transition.

Pros: Very nice photo quality and performance; extensively customizable; flip-and-twist LCD; Art Filters are fun

Cons: Poor My Mode custom settings implementation; without more control, Art Filters will remain a novelty for this class of camera

Verdict: A great general-purpose dSLR, the Olympus E-30 offers an attractive alternative for advanced shooters not yet wedded to a system.

Review summary: The new E-30 digital single-lens reflex camera (SLR) from Olympus combines a solid feature set with a truly creative...

Pros: Very good autofocus in daylight

Cons: Complicated customizable menus Unimpressive performance at high ISOs

Verdict: In terms of image quality, performance, features, and design, the Olympus E-30 stacks up well against other digital SLRs in the $1,300 price range. Its creative features are plus, and I very much liked having the swing-out LCD screen. I was a little ...

Review summary: The Olympus E-30 stacks up well against other digital SLRs in the $1,300 price range. Derrick Story finds that the E-30's creative features are plus, and it's a SLR with professional features at a reasonable price.

Pros: Real-time focusing in Live View mode ; support for multiple aspect ratios ; image stabilization in camera body ; unique features such as Multiple Exposure and Digital Leveler ; 98 percent field of view through optical viewfinder ; exposure bracketing ...

Cons: No movie mode ; battery charger requires cord instead of plugging directly into wall outlet

Verdict: The E-30's Art Filters and Multiple Exposure functions are two unique features that I hadn't seen before in an SLR. Both take advantage of Live View technology that enables you to compose and capture images via the LCD instead of the optical viewfinder

Review summary: The E-30 ($1299, body only) is a midrange digital SLR that fits between the E-520 and the flagship E-3 in Olympus' line-up. The easiest way to describe the E-30 is this: take the E-3, subtract the weather-sealing, then add a higher resolution sensor, ...

Pros: Very good photo quality (though see below) ; Well built, easy to hold body ; Sensor-shift image stabilization ; Live view on a flip-out, rotating 2.7" LCD display ; screen easy to see outdoors ; Full manual controls, and then some ; RAW format ...

Cons: A little too expensive ; Camera clips highlights more often than it should ; images are a bit noisier than the best cameras in this class ; Viewfinder smaller than most of competition ; Contrast detect AF in live view is very slow, and only supports a ...

Verdict: If you're like me, you might be thinking "gee, why buy the E-3 when you can get the nearly equivalent E-30 for a few hundred less?". Unless you need the more durable body and larger viewfinder of the E-3, it seems to be that you could do quite well ...